ROANOKE TIMES Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608210079 SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY DATELINE: BLACKSBURG SOURCE: KATHY LU STAFF WRITER
Friends remember him sporting a crew cut and camouflage pants to school. He remembers looking at pictures during middle school of reconnaissance vehicles and wishing that someday, he'd be the soldier standing beside one.
"I never thought it'd happen, but here I am," Army Cpl. Jonathan G. Hill, 24, said from about 5,000 miles away through a telephone connection that occasionally swallowed his voice in static.
"I've wanted to be part of any kind of military since about the sixth or seventh grade. But I never thought I'd be deployed to a war-torn country."
Hill, a 1991 graduate of Blacksburg High School, was deployed to Olovo, Bosnia, with about 2,000 soldiers from the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division in mid-January. It is the most southern base in the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina being patrolled by U.S. troops.
"When we first got here it was pretty bad," he recalled. "There was about three to four feet of snow on the ground, and it was constantly snowing. We had to live in tents because they hadn't built the camp yet, and since there were no shower facilities, we basically had to do 'baby wipe' baths."
After two months, the showers and sleeping trailers were built, and after a few more months the basketball courts, weight room, library and phone center were also up and running. They made life more comfortable, but the work didn't get any easier.
"Coming from places that are peaceful where people are eating and drinking in cafes, it's hard to see people here walking around in rags, starving, living in broken houses, scavenging for food," said Hill, who was stationed in Germany. "Seeing how no one notices the few skeletons laying on the side of road and how they just keep going on with what they're doing makes me wonder if we'll ever have to worry about war; if this will ever happen to us."
Hill's workday starts at 5 a.m. and he provides security for the convoys that travel into the surrounding towns as part of a NATO peacekeeping mission in Bosnia to enforce the Dayton peace agreement. The 1995 agreement ended four years of war between the Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Serbs and divided the peacekeeping mission among Britain, France and the United States. The operation is scheduled to end in December.
Hill's job now is to keep the peace so local people have the chance to rebuild. But soldiers cannot help or interfere with local activity - including giving food or money to begging children and adults, no matter how desperate they seem, said Hill.
"There are some towns that look like they've never been touched and some that look like Swiss cheese," Hill said.
"Some locals also greet you nicely, and then you have some who don't want you there at all. We've had rocks and words thrown at us and we can't do anything if they're unarmed. We just have to ask them politely to stop."
In the seven months that he has been at Camp Linda in Olovo, not one shot has been fired by his task force. Nevertheless, Hill has to carry a lightweight machine gun and ammunition clips in his vest at all times.
"There was a time where we hit a bad spot in the area and encountered a few guys with weapons," Hill recounted. "It was a stare-down and anything could've happened. We ended up shaking hands, but it makes me wonder sometimes if someone will just pop up and shoot at you. It makes me think, what about life?"
The January snows have given way to the hot, humid and rainy Bosnian summers. Hill said the weather alternates between raining for three days straight to being hot and humid for three days. As September approaches, all the military units have to be prepared to guard civilians during the elections so they have a fair chance to vote. Hill said he could feel the tension increasing among the local communities.
"What keeps me going every day is pretty much getting mail. I miss my wife a lot."
Annalisa, Hill's wife of two years, lives in Germany, where his home station is located. The two met when he was transferred to Fort Bliss, Texas, and both returned to Germany when he was transferred again. Hill talks to his wife about once or twice or a month.
"She was pretty devastated when we found out I was going to Bosnia," Hill said. "But she grew up in a military family and has been real supportive about it."
Hill was born in Oklahoma and moved to Blacksburg when he was about 2 years old. He played tailback and linebacker on the Blacksburg Indians football team.
"We were immature. We got in a lot of trouble is what we did," Steven Haynes, one of Hill's classmates who played defensive tackle on the team, recalled with a laugh. "He was outstanding. He always tried to pick people up if they were down and always tried to do the right thing."
Arlene and Fred Skurupey, who have been Hill's guardians since 1989, have known him since he was 13. Arlene Skurupey was the adviser for Hill's Explorer troop when he was a Boy Scout. When he moved into their Blacksburg home, one of the provisions she set was that he had to stay in high school even if he wanted to join the Army.
She remembers how he always seemed the military type. She also described Hill as "very caring ... he made a big impression on us. He's like a son to us."
"I owe my life to this lady," Hill said of Arlene Skurupey. "She is one of the most wonderful people I know. She's one person that I'd give my life for."
Although the Army has made a point to provide entertainment for Hill's division once or twice a month, he said life would be a little easier if the soldiers could have a beer or two at night. "Other than that, they've done pretty good to keep everyone happy and satisfied."
The Army also tries to give each soldier a day off during the week for relaxing and personal time. Sundays are also open for religious services. On July 4, the troops had the day off and held a barbecue with basketball and volleyball tournaments throughout the day. "Everyone pretty much got along," Hill said, "although living with the same guys every day can get "kind of rough."
Hill's unit is scheduled to be replaced sometime in the next few months, and Hill will return to Germany. He hopes to come back to the states in about two years to work on a college degree.
Until then, Hill depends on hard work and busy days to get him through the weeks. The faster a day goes by, he said, the closer he is to going home. And he can't wait for the days when he'll be able to come home from work every night to greet no one but his wife.
You can write to Cpl. Jonathan G. Hill at the following address:
HHC TF 2/68 Recon Plt.
2 BCT 1st Armor Dv.
Operation Joint Endeavor
APO Ae 09789
Dear Roanoke Times,
My name is Jonathan G. Hill and I'm a soldier stationed in Bosnia. I used to live in Blacksburg and graduated from B.H.S. [Blacksburg High School].
I was wondering if you could print my name and address in your paper so my friends back home could get in touch with me while I'm here in Bosnia. Morale here is low. We have to be here until December, so it would help if you could do this for me so I could at least smile just once!
My job out here is reconnaissance and convoy security with many patrols. I've seen a lot of destroyed homes, skeletal remains of humans, and a lot of crying people! This country is very torn apart. I never knew people could hate each other as much as to kill women and children.
It makes me very sad when children come up to our truck and beg for food and we are not allowed to give them any. But we try to entertain them to make them smile! Things are looking up and people are rebuilding and going about their daily business without fear of artillery or sniper shots, but I hope to God once we leave it doesn't fall apart and go back to hell again!
I really hope to go home soon and be able to enjoy the things my wife and I are so lucky to have. I now appreciate what I have after seeing what four years of hatred can do! I thank you for your time and hope to see letters soon.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Hill
Corporal, U.S. Army
LENGTH: Long : 144 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Hillby CNB